Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the greatest underdog sports film of all time, 1976's Rocky. The film would spawn several sequels and spinoffs that are still going today, more than four decades on. There is an undeniable charm to a story about a person that rises to the occasion against the odds, of which the Rocky films are famous for. It's a universal theme that stands the test of time, which is why this franchise has lasted so long.
The eight films featuring Rocky Balboa (Stallone) are a mixed bag, with some hitting all the right notes, while other entries less so, though they all make for entertaining viewing. Stallone headlined the majority of the films, until passing the torch to Michael B. Jordan in 2015's Creed. For an uplifting dose of sports action with a humanistic story, read on to find where you can stream all of the Rocky movies online.
8 Rocky (1976)
The film that started it all brought the world the humble fictional character of Rocky Balboa, an unknown boxer with a dream of becoming a world champion. When the opportunity presents itself to fight for the title against the dangerous Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky will have to dig deep, rise up and put in the work to overcome his greatest life challenge yet.
What made Rocky so special is that the character is a relatable depiction of the struggle that most people face while trying to find their place in the world. Rocky's determination and will to fight and better himself as a person is a truly inspirational theme throughout this film, his journey made all the more emphatic by Sylvester Stallone's charismatic performance. The film would win three Oscars, including Best Picture, and would change the sports movie world forever.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC on Demand, fuboTV, and DirecTV.
7 Rocky II (1979)
After the success of Rocky, Stallone got back to writing and, for Rocky II, also took it upon himself to direct. This time around, Rocky faces a battle against himself, with the tough question of where his life and boxing career is headed, despite having a loving wife and some income from the sport he loves.
With a slightly bigger budget at hand, Rocky II improved on the overall production value of the film, though the themes remained relatively similar. Carl Weathers returned as Rocky's nemesis Apollo Creed and the pair would once again duke it out in a superbly climactic final bout. Stallone managed to capture the world's attention a second time with another beloved entry into the franchise.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC on Demand, fuboTV, and DirecTV.
6 Rocky III (1982)
Now a wealthy, bonafide champ with the world at his fingertips, Rocky must face the pressures that come with the price of fame. Feeling like he has nothing left to prove and reeling from a personal loss, Rocky must face his toughest opponent yet in Clubber Lang (Mr. T), a powerful up-and-coming fighter.
Stallone continues on as writer/director of Rocky III and his character is delved into even deeper after hitting the highest-high of his career and then being sent crashing back down. It was the natural progression of a classic rise-and-fall story-arc built up over three films, and while Rocky III was certainly entertainment-first, story-second, it all seemed to work, netting another hit for Stallone.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC on Demand, fuboTV, and DirecTV.
5 Rocky IV (1985)
In what is the cheesiest film in the series, Rocky IV sees Rocky having to defend his title against a near-superhuman opponent in Russia's Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). This time Rocky would have a personal score to settle while dealing with more personal loss and having to train his mind and body in the treacherous mountains of Siberia.
The film packs an emotional punch but is full of cheesy montages set to overly-inspirational '80s music, so you can't take it too seriously. However, it's for that reason why Rocky IV is great and a cult-classic sporting movie. Rocky IV is possibly the most memorable film in the series, despite its poor critical reception.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC on Demand, fuboTV, and DirecTV.
4 Rocky V (1990)
After being forced into early retirement, Rocky takes to coaching in Rocky V. His new protege is not all he appears to be and Rocky struggles with the industry-side of boxing. All this set to a backdrop of the once-great world champion now without a cent to his name, and a family to support. There are powerful themes running through this film, though it wasn't enough to save this one from becoming the thorn in the Rocky franchise's side.
Rocky V attempted to recapture the magic from the first Rocky film by going back to basics and telling a fresh rags-to-riches story. Audiences and critics could see right through this though, as the film failed to hit its mark, sending the once great franchise into an indefinite hiatus.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, fuboTV, and DirecTV.
3 Rocky Balboa (2006)
It would take sixteen years before Sylvester Stallone would once again don the boxing gloves for 2006s Rocky Balboa. Now a retired legend of the sport, Rocky decides to come out of retirement after being challenged by the current heavyweight champion of the world, who is thirty years Rocky's junior, in what would be his final, and greatest professional fight.
Age has never stopped Sylvester Stallone from taking on physical roles, and the actor got into excellent shape to play the former champ in Rocky Balboa. It was a return to form for the franchise, its emotional weight packing as much punch as the two heavyweights going toe-to-toe in the film's climax, which featured one of the best recreations of a boxing match on film to date.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC on Demand, STaRZ, and DirecTV
2 Creed (2015)
With Sylvester Stallone hanging up the gloves as Rocky Balboa, it was time for the next generation to fly the flag for this franchise. In steps Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Rocky's old friend and former rival Apollo Creed, in 2015s Creed. The film was essentially a spiritual remake of 1976's Rocky, set in the modern era but featuring a lot of similar story beats. Creed would have to rise up to the task of becoming a boxing champion in the face of adversity, much like Rocky did way back when.
Despite the similarities to the first Rocky film, Creed was a success and brought rising star Michael B. Jordan further into the spotlight, his performance capturing the eye of Marvel and earning him a role in 2018's Black Panther. Creed took the classic Rocky underdog sports story formula and applied it with great care, adding another highly enjoyable entry to this tenacious franchise.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Sling TV, Redbox, AMC on Demand, and DirecTV.
1 Creed II (2018)
The success of 2015's Creed saw Michael B. Jordan reprise his role in the film's sequel, Creed II. In a reflection of Rocky IV, Creed is tasked with facing the son of Rocky's most powerful rival, Ivan Drago. The bout is a personal one where both Rocky and Creed are deeply, yet at times reluctantly, invested.
Creed has a score to settle in this film and, at times, his emotions get the better of him, which is never good when it comes time for battle. Jordan is excellent as the champion boxer who now has more than just a belt on the line, with his health and family life all factoring into the equation. With two modern Rocky movies to Stallone's and Jordan's name, the future looks ever so bright for this enduring franchise.
Available on: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Youtube, Vudu, Hulu, Epix, Redbox, AMC on Demand, FandangoNOW, and DirecTV.
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